14 Jul North Toronto partners connect 10,000 residents to primary care, secure funding to attach 4,000 more

The North Toronto Ontario Health Team (NT OHT), in partnership with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Sunnybrook Academic Family Health Team (SAFHT), Vibrant Community Health, and community primary care practices, has achieved a significant milestone by supporting the attachment of 10,000 North Toronto residents to a family doctor or nurse practitioner.  

This achievement was made possible through a $4.25 million investment from the Ontario government to expand team-based primary care capacity. The work is part of a province-wide commitment to address primary care access, with the provincial government committing $3.4 billion through Dr. Jane Philpott’s Primary Care Action Plan to connect two million more people to primary care by 2029. 

This accomplishment marks an important step forward in improving access to primary care and strengthening collaboration across the local health system. Primary care providers serve as a patient’s central point of contact for their health needs, offering preventive care, management of chronic conditions, referrals to specialists and ongoing coordination of care. Access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner is associated with better health outcomes and a more connected care experience. 

Reaching this milestone required extensive collaboration across Sunnybrook, Vibrant, the North Toronto Primary Care Network, Forest Hill Family Health Centre, St. Clair Medical Clinic, Yonge Davisville Health Centre, Eglinton Station Medical Centre and Unify Health. The achievement was made possible through strong partnerships with community physicians, community pharmacies, local organizations and Sunnybrook’s Bridging Care Clinic, alongside a broad range of outreach and engagement efforts. 

“This achievement reflects an extraordinary collaborative effort across our health system,” said Danyal Martin, Director, North Toronto Ontario Health Team. “By bringing together primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and other team members; community organizations; and health system partners, we have created meaningful opportunities for people to access the ongoing care they need. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to reaching this milestone and look forward to continuing this work together.”

Teams conducted more than 30 community outreach events, launched public awareness campaigns and created multiple pathways to primary care attachment. These efforts supported more than 1,200 individuals through a centralized intake process, while additional initiatives helped identify unattached patients accessing Sunnybrook services and fostered emerging partnerships with the Canadian Armed Forces. 

“Access to primary care is fundamental to a high-performing health system and healthier communities,” said Lori Brady, Vice President, Integrated Care and System Partnerships at Sunnybrook. “This milestone demonstrates what can be achieved when hospitals, primary care providers and community organizations work together toward a shared goal. We are proud of the partnerships that made this possible and the positive impact this work is having for thousands of residents.” 

While reaching 10,000 attachments is a significant achievement, partners remain committed to continuing this work and building on this momentum to ensure more residents have access to connected, comprehensive primary care. With an additional $2.1 million in second-round provincial funding secured, the Don Mills Family Health Team will serve as a hub, alongside Welcare Centre, Magenta Health-Midtown and other community providers, to connect an additional 4,000 North Toronto residents to team-based primary care, further advancing access to care in North Toronto. 

If you’re a North Toronto resident and looking for a family doctor or nurse practitioner, the North Toronto Ontario Health Team can help! Sign up at www.northtorontooht.ca/primarycare and get matched to a health care provider and team.